Assoc. Dir, Procurement Eggs & Birds Category

Job Description

Assoc. Dir, Procurement – Eggs & Birds Category

We are looking for an Associate Director, Procurement, to join our Global Supplier Management team within Animal Health division in Our Company Salamanca (Spain), Our Company Millsboro (US) or Our Company Boxmeer (Netherlands) and support a critical supply chain for Animal Health Manufacturing. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to shape sourcing strategy for a critical category supporting Large Molecule manufacturing sites, with direct influence on supply continuity, product quality, cost competitiveness, and long-term category resilience.

The role requires a strategic and hands-on leader who can navigate a specialized and oligopolistic supplier market, build deep expertise in egg-based vaccine production, and partner across functions to drive category strategy, supplier value, risk management, and critical process improvement. This is a unique opportunity to become the market reference for the category while leading with influence, rigor, and business impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives for the Eggs & Birds category aligned with Animal Health Global Supplier Management priorities and business objectives.
• Set strategic and operational objectives to strengthen procurement capabilities, secure supply lines, and support budget and growth plans in close partnership with key stakeholders.
• Serve as the AH-GSM sourcing and procurement partner to key Animal Health stakeholder groups.
• Own category performance across supplier value management, risk, supplier performance, and financial results.
• Drive operational execution across sourcing, supply risk, supplier performance, cost improvement, sustainability, working capital, production planning, materials management, quality, technology transfers, investigations, and continuous improvement.
• Translate procurement strategy into disciplined execution, partnering with operations and functional leaders to deliver business goals and resolve broader business issues.
• Lead the operational, financial, administrative, and technical management of procurement activities while serving as a resource on AH-GSM processes, procedures, and systems.
• Lead supplier selection and contract execution to secure required quality, service, productivity, and savings, while building strong external partnerships.
• Act as a technical and operational resource to resolve procurement system issues, strengthen supplier and customer understanding, and ensure compliance with global standards.
• Become the market reference for the Eggs & Birds category, bringing deep market insight and recognized category expertise.
• Build end-to-end understanding of egg-based vaccine production to align sourcing with manufacturing, quality, and supply needs.
• Own supplier strategy in an oligopolistic market to secure best-in-class quality, optimal cost, and assured supply.
• Lead a high-performing cross-functional team to deliver critical process improvement projects with speed and discipline.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Veterinary Science, Science, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience in procurement.
• Strong experience in strategy development, planning, negotiation, and execution.
• 5–10 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or technical operations within a manufacturing environment, ideally in animal health, pharmaceuticals, or consumer goods.
• English language proficiency required.
• Travel required: 20–25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience and understanding of the animal health and/or biopharmaceutical industry, including associated best practices in manufacturing, supply chain management, and supplier/category management.
• Knowledge of supply chain technologies, performance management and reporting, and operations management best practices.
• Advanced capabilities in Sourcing & Supplier Strategies, Sourcing Methodology, Cost Optimization, Supplier Relationship Management, Negotiation Skills, Financial/Legal Aspects of Procurement, and Supplier Risk Management.
• Category sourcing expertise in direct materials.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to operate beyond traditional supplier management boundaries.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.

The salary range for this role is $129,000 - $203,100

Please note that the outlined salary applies to US.

Where a role has other listed locations different compensation guidelines may apply. Our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location of application.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

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